Speaking to Manchester Evening News, electrical contracts director Johnny Turner – the Morrissey of The Smiths Ltd. – spoke about his nine year tenure performing as Moz and how it has changed in light of Morrissey’s problematic public image.

“It has started filtering through to me”, Turner says. “Someone posted on our website asking if I do political rants in between songs, and another asking if I’m a fake Morrissey do I have the same fake views as him.

“It’s not worth responding to those sorts of comments, you’re just putting fuel on the fire.”

Turner noted that the politics associated with Morrissey shouldn’t distract from what The Smiths Ltd. are all about. “For us, as a tribute band, it’s all about the music first and foremost and celebrating the music of The Smiths.”

As all good tribute bands begin, Johnny created his Moz persona during a karaoke session in Blackpool. Though he has always resembled the Smiths singer: “I do get double-takes”, he says “but I’m not an identical twin of him. I’m like the Aldi version of Morrissey!

Johnny says: “There’s such a cult following for The Smiths, and we must be doing something right because we get a lot of repeat custom.”

Instagram Slider

1 month agoby themusicchannelliveShabba Ranks, Legendary Jamaican Deejay, born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon, 53 years ago today on 17 January 1966, in Sturge Town, St. Ann. The genre of reggaeton, now a billion-dollar business, was spawned by his 1990 song 'Dem Bow', produced by Bobby 'Digital' Dixon. The Dem Bow riddim became so popular in Puerto Rican freestyle sessions that early reggaeton was simply known as 'Dembow'.